Bonjou! Good Day!
What an adventure this week was for us. It may not sound exciting, but learning a new culture is fun and a little tough! As I mentioned last week we had finished our lessons in our Creole Made Easy books and moved on to our workbooks (although our dictionaries in the Creole Made Easy books are still getting plenty of daily use!). The workbook however has many daily lessons that the other did not and now we are learning all hosuehold items, numbers, how to tell time, colors, months, season and more! Justin has the numbers down really well (i'm a little hung up on them still). The nice things this week is that we have begun to use the market and that really helps to practice not only our numbers but learning how the money works here. I'll give you a little insight. Most everyone tells you how much something is in 'Haitian Dollars', the thing is, Haitian dollars don't really exsist. So once you know how much it is in Haitian Dollars you can divide by 7 to know how much that is in American Dollars or if you are paying with Goud, which is what we are using, you multiply by 5. Oh yeah, it is a load of math and now that we get it, kind of fun! I always figure how much it is in American first to make sure I am not paying more than I would at the store then we multiply by 5 to pay. Another nice thing about going to the Market this week is that we don't have to eat the same things over and over again everyday! Fresh potatos and corn are really nice for a change!
Again, Kevin is using more and more Creole words, which is a blessing. When we get back to the states I look forward to seeing the mound of homeschooling books and literature books his grandma has been finding for us for this fall! He says he wants to learn his multiplication tables this year and how to play the drums (yikes!). Music is a big thing in Haiti though and I am excited to see him catch on to that desire! Not sure if i am ready for a new crying baby and drums all in the same year though! But the blessing it has been to see him grow and want to try new things out weighs all of the chaos!
We also became 'true' Haitians this week. As we were cleaning our rooms the other day we saw white people next door and started watching out the window (watching the white people like the Haitians do hahaha)...we were able to speek to them later and find out they were students in the Mission Field and doing reports.
Well, for now that is the extent and excitement of the previous week. We have 3 weeks to go and Stitch is long awaiting pickles! We are very excited to see everyone soon, but also to remain focused and continue in the ministry of overseas missionaries!
Bondye Beni Nou!
God Bless you!
The White Family,
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch (who is starting to show by the way)!!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Learning More and More
Nou fini tout leson nan liv nou! We finished all the lessons in our book!
Well, at the beginning of this week we finished our lessons in our Creole made easy book and have began working in our workbooks! I must say, it is encouraging when you can read a paragraph in Creole and write it in English and when you read sentences in English and can translate them to Creole. Then I remember that is because I can read it and write it as my own speed! Hahaha
Besides working in our workbooks we are also still memorizing vocabulary words, as there are several we have yet to learn. We try to choose about 10-20 each day of words we find ourselves wanting to use a lot or that we hear often then we just go through the dictionary and pick a few to know as well!
Kevin sat through both church services fairly well today! YEAH – VICTORY!
Stitch has been yucky all week and then yesterday and today has been amazing! I did get over heated in church this morning but this evening was breezy and wonderful!
We were even able to catch a bit of the sermon tonight. Then once Pastor Joseph got fired up and excited we totally lost complete thoughts and only hung by words here and there! It was still exciting and is exciting to know that we are progressing! Praise the Lord for His desire for a personal relationship with His people and desire to use us!
We were able to talk to Pastor Kennan this week and find out more information about some of His churches as well as things about the country of Haiti! It is interesting picking up on the culture as well as the language. We went walking for quite a while the other day and found several small stores and was able to speak with people, it was a wonderful outing and another great encouragement to meet the people!
Well, at the beginning of this week we finished our lessons in our Creole made easy book and have began working in our workbooks! I must say, it is encouraging when you can read a paragraph in Creole and write it in English and when you read sentences in English and can translate them to Creole. Then I remember that is because I can read it and write it as my own speed! Hahaha
Besides working in our workbooks we are also still memorizing vocabulary words, as there are several we have yet to learn. We try to choose about 10-20 each day of words we find ourselves wanting to use a lot or that we hear often then we just go through the dictionary and pick a few to know as well!
Kevin sat through both church services fairly well today! YEAH – VICTORY!
Stitch has been yucky all week and then yesterday and today has been amazing! I did get over heated in church this morning but this evening was breezy and wonderful!
We were even able to catch a bit of the sermon tonight. Then once Pastor Joseph got fired up and excited we totally lost complete thoughts and only hung by words here and there! It was still exciting and is exciting to know that we are progressing! Praise the Lord for His desire for a personal relationship with His people and desire to use us!
We were able to talk to Pastor Kennan this week and find out more information about some of His churches as well as things about the country of Haiti! It is interesting picking up on the culture as well as the language. We went walking for quite a while the other day and found several small stores and was able to speak with people, it was a wonderful outing and another great encouragement to meet the people!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Bonswa!
Bonswa Zanmi Nou! Kouman nou ye? Nou ekri pou semenn kat!
Good Evening our friends! How are you (all)? We write for week four!
There is not a ton of new information to pass on this week! God is still God and sits in the Heavens and does as He pleases! Praise the Lord!
We are beggining to understand everyone a little bit better with each passing day. Yesterday I (Bobbi Ann) had a headache all day (tet fe mal) and boy did that make it difficult to listen!! Again though, the Lord reigns and today we sat through church service and were actually able to follow somewhat! Praise the Lord!
We have been doing family bible studies each evening in English though so that we are being filled with the Word. We also have our individual quiet time with the Lord in the mornings before we begin studying our Creole.
We again want to thank you all for your prayers and love and support! You have all been such a blessing to our family and give us so much encouragement! Our prayers are still being lifted that the Lord would show us where He wants us to be and what He wants us to be doing (while of course evangelising) when we return in Jan.
With love and praises to the Lord from Haiti,
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
Good Evening our friends! How are you (all)? We write for week four!
There is not a ton of new information to pass on this week! God is still God and sits in the Heavens and does as He pleases! Praise the Lord!
We are beggining to understand everyone a little bit better with each passing day. Yesterday I (Bobbi Ann) had a headache all day (tet fe mal) and boy did that make it difficult to listen!! Again though, the Lord reigns and today we sat through church service and were actually able to follow somewhat! Praise the Lord!
We have been doing family bible studies each evening in English though so that we are being filled with the Word. We also have our individual quiet time with the Lord in the mornings before we begin studying our Creole.
We again want to thank you all for your prayers and love and support! You have all been such a blessing to our family and give us so much encouragement! Our prayers are still being lifted that the Lord would show us where He wants us to be and what He wants us to be doing (while of course evangelising) when we return in Jan.
With love and praises to the Lord from Haiti,
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
Monday, June 7, 2010
Week 2 of Language Learning
Li te pran kawoutchou la nan magezen a pou repare!
He took the tire to the store for repair!
Well, we actually know more than this and useful information as well, but we we have enjoyed the word tire in Creole since we had it in one of our lessons and because of how fun it is to say we will probably not forget it (kawoutcho)!
I just wrote out a long blog about the happenings here and the Triumphs that our Lord has had in our lives and the computer deleted it all, however, the Lord is worthy and worthy to be praised so I rejoice in the opportunity to try to inform you all once again!
Justin had swimmer's ear the first several days after the mission team left, which left him deaf in his left ear. This made it interesting for me to have to try to understand Creole when being spoken too, but possibly also helped me to learn a little better. Justin has since recovered and can hear from both ears *Triumph*
Kevin has adjusted very well to the culture in the last couple of days. He struggled with rules and obedience after our family and friends left, however has since enjoyed trying to learn Creole and playing with the children here. He does need prayer for patience in learning the language as well as constant encouragement to apply the words he already knows!
Stitch *baby* is doing well. If i get extremely hot I sometimes have found myself sick, but if I need to leave a conversation for a few minutes to cool off everyone has been very understanding! I had one day of being sick the entire day, but again the Lord triumphed and I am doing much better.
During an evening service at pastor Kenan's church the other night I closed my eyes and listened to the singing and even though I could not understand, I could not help but to hear the beauty of one day all of the saints from around the world singing praises to our King in one language... it was beautiful and encouraging.
We want to thank everyone for your love, prayers and support. If we were to ask for specific prayer requests right now it would be for more understanding when hearing the language spoken!
Bondye beni ou! - God bless you
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
He took the tire to the store for repair!
Well, we actually know more than this and useful information as well, but we we have enjoyed the word tire in Creole since we had it in one of our lessons and because of how fun it is to say we will probably not forget it (kawoutcho)!
I just wrote out a long blog about the happenings here and the Triumphs that our Lord has had in our lives and the computer deleted it all, however, the Lord is worthy and worthy to be praised so I rejoice in the opportunity to try to inform you all once again!
Justin had swimmer's ear the first several days after the mission team left, which left him deaf in his left ear. This made it interesting for me to have to try to understand Creole when being spoken too, but possibly also helped me to learn a little better. Justin has since recovered and can hear from both ears *Triumph*
Kevin has adjusted very well to the culture in the last couple of days. He struggled with rules and obedience after our family and friends left, however has since enjoyed trying to learn Creole and playing with the children here. He does need prayer for patience in learning the language as well as constant encouragement to apply the words he already knows!
Stitch *baby* is doing well. If i get extremely hot I sometimes have found myself sick, but if I need to leave a conversation for a few minutes to cool off everyone has been very understanding! I had one day of being sick the entire day, but again the Lord triumphed and I am doing much better.
During an evening service at pastor Kenan's church the other night I closed my eyes and listened to the singing and even though I could not understand, I could not help but to hear the beauty of one day all of the saints from around the world singing praises to our King in one language... it was beautiful and encouraging.
We want to thank everyone for your love, prayers and support. If we were to ask for specific prayer requests right now it would be for more understanding when hearing the language spoken!
Bondye beni ou! - God bless you
The White Family
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
We are Here
Bonswa zonmi nou! - Good Evening our friends!
We made it to Haiti last week and my apology for this being our first post. 18 people sharing one webband access did not allow me to get on sooner, but while everyone is away swimming I have decided to update you on the going ons so far.
Justin and I have been practicing and have learned some Creole, but still have a far way to go. Kevin will begin to learn this week too, but he has been spending his extra time with his grandparents who leave tomorrow. We have had a crusade each night for the last week and have seen SEVERAL recieve Jesus Christ! We are still needing lots of prayer that we will stay focused on winning souls ALWAYS and that we will continue to soak up the language. Once the mission team leaves we will spend all day practicing the language and then going out and practicing. We will take our break in the middle of the day each day but will continue to practice and use it in the evenings. We have been asked to join Pastor Kenan and Madam for a wedding one day in a town further away as well as a couple of days at an annual meeting Pastor Kenan hosts for his churches.
Kevin is fun to watch learn the culture. He is still unsure about holding hands with the other boys (which is a sign of friendship here). And like all 7 year old boys Kevin has already scraped up several parts of his body and has had a blast doing it! :) - please pray for him as his grandparents and our church family leave tomorrow that he will adjust well to all the changes.
For now that is all the new news I have to share and I look forward to writing next week to share the new things we have learned as well as experienced!
God Bless
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch (oh yeah, and stitch did not like flying :P)
We made it to Haiti last week and my apology for this being our first post. 18 people sharing one webband access did not allow me to get on sooner, but while everyone is away swimming I have decided to update you on the going ons so far.
Justin and I have been practicing and have learned some Creole, but still have a far way to go. Kevin will begin to learn this week too, but he has been spending his extra time with his grandparents who leave tomorrow. We have had a crusade each night for the last week and have seen SEVERAL recieve Jesus Christ! We are still needing lots of prayer that we will stay focused on winning souls ALWAYS and that we will continue to soak up the language. Once the mission team leaves we will spend all day practicing the language and then going out and practicing. We will take our break in the middle of the day each day but will continue to practice and use it in the evenings. We have been asked to join Pastor Kenan and Madam for a wedding one day in a town further away as well as a couple of days at an annual meeting Pastor Kenan hosts for his churches.
Kevin is fun to watch learn the culture. He is still unsure about holding hands with the other boys (which is a sign of friendship here). And like all 7 year old boys Kevin has already scraped up several parts of his body and has had a blast doing it! :) - please pray for him as his grandparents and our church family leave tomorrow that he will adjust well to all the changes.
For now that is all the new news I have to share and I look forward to writing next week to share the new things we have learned as well as experienced!
God Bless
Justin, Bobbi Ann, Kevin and Stitch (oh yeah, and stitch did not like flying :P)
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